It all started at about 11:00pm two nights ago. My mom gets a phone call, and she answers it. This lady on the other end asks if the "***-kicking machine is still available". My mom said a few choice words to her then hung up. We didn't really think much of it.

The next day, my parents are out, and the phone rings. I just let it go to voicemail. This guy leaves a message, it was kind of staticy, but it was something like "Hi, I was wondering if the stacks of porn you had on Craigslist are still available". This is when I go upstairs to my computer and see what the bleep is going on. I searched our city's Craigslist for our phone number, and sure enough, there were posts advertising an "***-kicking machine", "Stacks of porn DVDs", and "free bras". Hmm...

Anyway, I let it go. About 10 minutes later, another phone call. I let it go to answering machine again. The person asks if the "Handsets" (????) are still available. These calls just keep going on and on. Asking if random items are still available. I check CL again, and this person just keeps rapidfiring posts with our phone number.

My parents come home, I tell them they might want to check the answering machine. They listen to the messages, stuff happens, they call the phone company and end up enabling some "Call screening" service for $2 extra a month.

I was later called into my parents room to sit with them. The three of us all had our laptops, we were just surfing around CL trying to find clues. This is when I search for our address, just because the thought came to me. Sure enough, there was an ad that said "FREE GAMING PC, COME TO (my address) NOW!!!". Oh jeez

The posts continue. "FREE PIECE OF (bleep) TOYOTA, COME TO (my address) AND JUST TAKE IT, WE DON'T WANT IT". There was also "FREE HUSBAND THAT DOESN'T DO WHAT HE IS (bleep)ING SUPPOSED TO". Just completely random stuff.

Fast forward to this morning. I get on my computer for the usual routine. Check my email, RSS, Mac-Forums, Gizmodo, etc. My mom walks in and says "Good morning Jamieeeeee ", seems normal enough. I go downstairs to grab some grape juice, I see her in the hallway and I couldn't quite understand what she said, but it was something like "I think you should stop now". I had no idea what the heck she was talking about, so I just said "Stop what? Stop....... walking?" - She said "Nothing" and goes upstairs (Picture a Russian accent on the woman). Strange-o.

This is when my dad comes in. He thinks that I did it!!
I'm the male teenaged son, what defence did I have? The female parent doesn't even know what an IP address is. My mom starts raving on about this "Maybe you don't like living with us" bull. Nothing really new. She's the type who instantly takes an idea then keeps it forever.

All I can say is it wasn't me, but who else would have that much information?
They're emailing CL and dealing with it, but the lack of trust worries me, I've never really been a bad boy (Well, unless you remember the "Anyone awake, can't sleep" thread, but I still stand by my right on that one.)

Basically my question is, what do I do at this point? Is this some idiot just trying to be funny? Am I being framed? Having both my parents mad at me for something I took absolutely no part in just worries me is all.

Yikes, all the phone calls don't bother me as much as having your address listed. Who knows what kind of weirdos are around? I'm not sure what I would be doing either but I'd definitely be e-mailing Craigslist, considering changing my phone number, and possibly getting the police involved if anyone weird shows up.

Too bad about your parents thinking you did it. I think it's just a parental thing though, lol. One time our window broke and my mom tried to say I took a stick and started hacking away at the window even though I'm a girl and have never done (or wanted to do) anything like that.

Start thinking about who might have a gripe against you. And suggest to the parents that they call the police. If it's not you, let them know. Don't know exactly what the police can do, but CL will have an IP of where those posts are coming from. Let them know you're all for getting the police involved in this. That kind of stuff is not a laughing matter.

I cannot be held responsible for the things that come out of my mouth.
In the Windows world, most everything folks don't understand is called a virus.

Sounds like one of your friends hate you or something like that, so I'd let your parents know that it is not you. I'd start with some emails to Craigslist letting know what is going down, if gets any worse police time. But honestly remind your parents that they taught you right that you are not doing it, its not easy trust me I was in a similar road block in my life a few years ago but well my parents don't exactly get along well my father wanted to press charges and blah blah blah end turn it was the neighbor and my father doesn't believe that I was innocent, so we don't exactly have a good bond.

The only way for you to prove to your parents that it isn't you, IMO, is to get CL and the police involved yourself. I feel really sorry for you. Are you an only child, or do you have siblings? Maybe it could be a sibling.

Start thinking about who might have a gripe against you. And suggest to the parents that they call the police. If it's not you, let them know. Don't know exactly what the police can do, but CL will have an IP of where those posts are coming from. Let them know you're all for getting the police involved in this. That kind of stuff is not a laughing matter.

The problem is some people have a random IP assigned by the ISP every time you go online, so this may not be effective.

The only way for you to prove to your parents that it isn't you, IMO, is to get CL and the police involved yourself. I feel really sorry for you. Are you an only child, or do you have siblings? Maybe it could be a sibling.

Thanks everyone.

I'm sixteen, would the police even take me seriously?

I have an older brother, but some of the ads involved his car. "BLACK BMW ON DRIVEWAY OF (address), WON'T START, SMASH IT ALL YOU WANT" - It's either some guy who drinks 25 hours a day, or someone really against me and/or my family.

Craigslist should easily be able to track this guy down by IP. Even if his IP changes constantly, it will still trace back to the same ISP segment. If you decide to involve the police in the matter (hopefully they have someone who specializes in Cybercrime), they should be able to use the information supplied by Craigslist and the ISP to identify the culprit. With recent events in the news, like the MySpace suicide, online harassment has become a very serious crime.

Liquid and computers don't mix. It might seem simple, but we see an incredible amount of people post here about spills. Keep drinks and other liquids away from your expensive electronics!